In every Catholic country around the world, the Blessed
Virgin Mary is venerated and honored as the Mother of God (Theotokos).
The apparitions of the Blessed Virgin
Mary in Lourdes, France and in Fatima, Portugal are events that have transformed
the faithful. The Blessed Virgin Mary is always guiding us to her son Jesus
Christ, True God and True Man.

In the Gospel of Saint Luke, the Blessed Virgin Mary said a
few words that have impacted humanity in the eyes of God forever, in response to
the Angel Gabriel, she says humbly:

"I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you
say" (Lk 1:38).

As John Paul II said October 6, 1979:

“And
with those words, she expresses what was the fundamental attitude of her life:
her faith! Mary believed! She trusted in God's promises and was faithful to his
will. When the angel Gabriel announced that she was chosen to be the Mother of
the Most High, she gave her " Fiat" humbly and with full freedom: "Let it be
done to me as you say". Perhaps the best description of Mary and, at the same time the greatest
tribute to her, was the greeting of her cousin Elizabeth: "Blessed is she who
trusted that God's words to her would be fulfilled" (Lk 1:45). For it was that
continual trust in the providence of God which most characterized her faith.

This woman of faith, Mary of Nazareth,
the Mother of God, has been given to us as a model in our pilgrimage of faith
From Mary we learn to surrender to God's will in all things. From Mary, we learn
to trust even when all hope seems gone. From Mary, we learn to love Christ, her
Son and the Son of God. For Mary is not only the Mother of God, she is Mother of
the Church as well. In every stage of the march through history, the Church has
benefited from the prayer and protection of the Virgin Mary. Holy Scripture and
the experience of the faithful see the Mother of God as the one who in a very
special way is united with the Church at the most difficult moments in her
history, when attacks on the Church become most threatening. Precisely in
periods when Christ, and therefore his Church, provokes deliberated
contradiction, Mary appears particularly close to the Church, because for her
the Church is always her beloved Christ.

The Blessed Virgin
Mary is to be venerated. Worship is due only to her Son, Jesus Christ, True God
and True Man.We are to imitateher faithfulness, as she expresses it in “The Magnificat?/p>

"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit
rejoices in God my savior.For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on
will all ages call me blessed.The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his
name.His
mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind
and heart.He has
thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent
away empty.He
has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise
to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."Luke 1:46-55

On December 8, 2010, the Catholic Church celebrates the
Solemnity
of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On December 12, 2010 is
the Celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe. +

Extra Information ?End Notes

1.From the Second Vatican Council - Dogmatic Constitution on the Church -
LUMEN GENTIUM - Chapter VIII - The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in the
Mystery of Christ and the Church - IV. The Cult of the Blessed Virgin in the
Church (#66-67)

66. Placed by the grace of God, as God's Mother, next to her
Son, and exalted above all angels and men, Mary intervened in the mysteries of
Christ and is justly honored by a special cult in the Church. Clearly from
earliest times the Blessed Virgin is honored under the title of Mother of God,
under whose protection the faithful took refuge in all their dangers and
necessities.(21*) Hence after the Synod of Ephesus the cult of the people of God
toward Mary wonderfully increased in veneration and love, in invocation and
imitation, according to her own prophetic words: "All generations shall call me
blessed, because He that is mighty hath done great things to me".(301) This
cult, as it always existed, although it is altogether singular, differs
essentially from the cult of adoration which is offered to the Incarnate Word,
as well to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and it is most favorable to it. The
various forms of piety toward the Mother of God, which the Church within the
limits of sound and orthodox doctrine, according to the conditions of time and
place, and the nature and ingenuity of the faithful has approved, bring it about
that while the Mother is honored, the Son, through whom all things have their
being (302) and in whom it has pleased the Father that all fullness should
dwell,(303) is rightly known, loved and glorified and that all His commands are
observed.

67. This most Holy Synod deliberately teaches this
Catholic doctrine and at the same time admonishes all the sons of the Church
that the cult, especially the liturgical cult, of the Blessed Virgin, be
generously fostered, and the practices and exercises of piety, recommended by
the magisterium of the Church toward her in the course of centuries be made of
great moment, and those decrees, which have been given in the early days
regarding the cult of images of Christ, the Blessed Virgin and the saints, be
religiously observed.(22*) But it exhorts theologians and preachers of the
divine word to abstain zealously both from all gross exaggerations as well as
from petty narrow-mindedness in considering the singular dignity of the Mother
of God.(23*) Following the study of Sacred Scripture, the Holy Fathers, the
doctors and liturgy of the Church, and under the guidance of the Church's
magisterium, let them rightly illustrate the duties and privileges of the
Blessed Virgin which always look to Christ, the source of all truth, sanctity
and piety. Let them assiduously keep away from whatever, either by word or deed,
could lead separated brethren or any other into error regarding the true
doctrine of the Church. Let the faithful remember moreover that true devotion
consists neither in sterile or transitory affection, nor in a certain vain
credulity, but proceeds from true faith, by which we are led to know the
excellence of the Mother of God, and we are moved to a filial love toward our
mother and to the imitation of her virtues.

2. From Pope John Paul II ?Homily on
October 6, 1979

After a brief rest at the Reflecting Pool during which the Holy Father
received the official welcome of the Mayor of Washington, Marion Barry, he went
to St. Matthew's Cathedral where some 1,400 priests, deacons and lay members of
the archdiocesan council awaited him. During the Eucharistic celebration the
Pope delivered the following homily.

Mary says to us today: "I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to
me as you say" (Lk 1:38).

And with those words, she expresses what was the fundamental attitude of
her life: her faith! Mary believed! She trusted in God's promises and was
faithful to his will. When the angel Gabriel announced that she was chosen to be
the Mother of the Most High, she gave her " Fiat" humbly and with full freedom:
"Let it be done to me as you say".

Perhaps the best description of Mary and, at the same time the greatest
tribute to her, was the greeting of her cousin Elizabeth: "Blessed is she who
trusted that God's words to her would be fulfilled" (Lk 1:45). For it was that
continual trust in the providence of God which most characterized her faith.

All her earthly life was a "pilgrimage of faith" (cf. Lumen Gentium, 58).
For like us she walked in shadows and hoped for things unseen. She knew the
contradictions of our earthly life. She was promised that her son would be given
David's throne, but at his birth, there was no room even at the inn. Mary still
believed. The angel said her child would be called the Son of God; but she would
see him slandered, betrayed and condemned, and left to die as a thief on the
cross. Even yet, Mary "trusted that God's words to her would be fulfilled" (Lk
1:45) and that "nothing was impossible with God" (Lk 1:37).

This woman of faith, Mary of Nazareth, the Mother of God, has been given
to us as a model in our pilgrimage of faith From Mary we learn to surrender to
God's will in all things. From Mary, we learn to trust even when all hope seems
gone. From Mary, we learn to love Christ, her Son and the Son of God. For Mary
is not only the Mother of God, she is Mother of the Church as well. In every
stage of the march through history, the Church has benefited from the prayer and
protection of the Virgin Mary. Holy Scripture and the experience of the faithful
see the Mother of God as the one who in a very special way is united with the
Church at the most difficult moments in her history, when attacks on the Church
become most threatening. Precisely in periods when Christ, and therefore his
Church, provokes deliberated contradiction, Mary appears particularly close to
the Church, because for her the Church is always her beloved Christ.

I therefore exhort you in Christ Jesus, to continue to look to Mary as
the model of the Church as the best example of the discipleship of Christ. Learn
from her to be always faithful, to trust that God's word to you will be
fulfilled, and that nothing is impossible with God. Turn to Mary frequently in
your prayer "for never was it known that anyone who fled to her protection,
implored her help or sought her intercession was left unaided".

As a great sign that has appeared in the heavens, Mary guides and
sustains us on our pilgrim way, urging us on to "the victory that overcomes the
world, our faith" (1 Jn 5:5).

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